Finally got Mercenary Kings. It was outside of my aforementioned parameters, but it has recently gone from $14.99 to $19.99 full price, so I got it half off during the steam sale. None of that is important though!

Quote from: mini review

Mercenary King plays up to 4 local co-op. It looks like Metal Slug. It has a non linear play, I've only played the first mission, but could have selected from several. There is a build function where you collect parts from killing enemies to mod your character.

How does it play? Default is xbox360 controller, but there is an option to configure for keyboard. I opted for xbox360 since I could right away. The triggers bring up the chat menu, but I don't know how crucial that is long term. There is a range attack (rifle) and melee. Also, there is a button to select inventory and change from range weapon to first aid, ration, c4, whatever you have in your inventory.

AWSD to move, space to jump, mouse to shoot, q to cycle guns. I wonder if a twin-top button joystick would play this game well? I don't have one top button joystick, let alone 2. As much as I'd like to play this with real arcade controls, this game hits all the buttons either way. Give it a shot!

For any old timers that want to replay the Leisure suit larry games for the next 16 hours GOG has the full LSL series on sale for $4.39 (includes LSL1 - 6 on the greatest hits and misses and also Love for Sail and Magna Cum Laude: Uncut and Uncensored!

Origin is touting a "free download of Wing Commander III" if you sign up to Origin. Well yeah it's free alright, if you can deal with Origin popping up every time you launch the game. Oh and once the game started.... I saw the dos box window. Yup they didn't even bother to port it... it's the old DOS version running on dos box.

Although the "quicktime events" that are present in a lot of modern games annoyed the crap out of me, the game and story itself kept me interested enough to play though the thing in a few weeks (around 40 hrs total play time). This is odd for me, as I hardly ever play games anymore and always have something I consider more important to do with my time.The scenery in the game is downright beautiful.

I personally don't mind Origin, because I got about a dozen decent games for free and haven't paid a penny to them. Now if I paid money for a DRM'd up game, that would be a different story...

Yeah - I just hate the ones like Origin and Steam that try to launch every time you boot windows, even if you aren't playing one of their games or that stay active after you close their game to track what you are doing and report home.

(for those who want to build a multi-Kombat arcade and legally sell it).

One problem with that thought -- It requires STEAM so once installed it can not be transferred or sold and the license kept valid !! (you'd need to make a new STEAM account for registering it and transfer that account and password along with the sale which Technically is not Legal per Steams EULA !!)